It's Happening at HERJC! - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

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NACHUM PLOTKIN Ritual Update DAILY SERVICES Mornings REGULAR Monday and Thursday 6:50 am Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 7:00 am Saturday 9:30 am Sunday & Legal Holidays 9:00 am Rosh Chodesh 6:45 am Evenings Monday through Thursday, Sunday & Legal Holidays 7:30 pm Fridays 7:00 pm Shalom friends! Summer is over and the new congregational year is about to begin. As I begin my 22nd year here at HERJC, I would like to take a few moments to recall some summer events: a hearty yasher koach to all those individuals who gave inspirational d’vrai Torah and recited haftarot. To all those who attended our Shabbat afternoon services and seuda shlisheit, not only did they enjoy good company, good food, and good conversation, they also helped make sure there was always a minyan on a late Saturday evening. Incidentally, there were on average, at least 20 people, each week. On July 4th, we held our annual Bagel Barbeque Breakfast. The weather was perfect and our garden provided a lovely setting. Thirty five people came and we all enjoyed patriotic music, good company, and of course patriotic themed food, catered by my wife Hannah, who was assisted by Carol Rubinstein and Rhona Tanenbaum. Thank you to all those who helped Hazzan Sislen make sure there was always a minyan while I was away on vacation, in particular Norman Doctor, and Mike Frank. I wish to take this opportunity to thank many people who have in their own way, helped me in my work during the past year: Rabbi Warmflash and Hazzan Sislen, for their continued support; Helaine, Betsy, Eva and Nancy—thanks for putting up with me for another year; Cheryl Karp, David Woolfe, and Todd Hausman for being great colleagues; James and the maintenance staff for all your willing help; President Dan Gerstman, thank you for having confidence in me; and our Ritual Committee for all your encouragement and support. A special thank you to the minyannaires, that wonderful group of individuals who attend morning minyan throughout the year. And finally, to the most important people of all: you, the members of our congregation. Thank you for allowing me to serve you in any way I can. To those of you who celebrated a simcha, mazal tov, and to those of you who sadly suffered a bereavement, I wish you chaim aruchim (long life). Hannah, Ariel, Avital and I thank you for continuing to make us feel part of the HERJC Family. Wishing you all a Happy and Healthy New Year. Saturday varies with sunset times Go to www.herjc.org Please check www.herjc.org or see the calendar for Saturday evening service times. September 11th Commemoration Sunday, September 11 at 11 am Join us as we remember the innocent victims who lost their lives ten years ago on September 11, 2001. page 4 SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 www.herjc.org HAKOL
DAN GERSTMAN From the President I have always been intrigued by the concept of “a beginners mind.” By that, I mean the ability to experience life as-it-is. To live in the moment, with a fresh perspective no matter how many times one repeats an action or event, is fascinating. For me, a beginner’s mind experiences life like a small child, full of enthusiastic curiosity, wonder, and amazement. As we join together for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur and follow with Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, I prefer to do so with “a beginners mind.” The Jewish New Year offers a new beginning filled with so much hope and spirit to each of us! We gather as a community family for individual reflection and self-examination, knowing we are a continuing part of the greater Jewish people. This year, we will experience the holidays in HERJC’s welcoming tradition, led by Rabbi Warmflash who has new inspiring directives for us individually and collectively. And of course, with Hazzan Sislen, coming off an outstanding rookie year, who will lead us in prayer and song from our marvelous and (nearly new) Holiday Prayerbooks! As we embark on this New Year of 5772 together, we face exciting opportunities and challenges. My hope and goal is that HERJC will thrive as the place where we are supportive of each other (through good and bad), the place where we can express our spiritual yearnings, and the place where we connect to our Jewish traditions and maintain our support of Israel. And speaking of Israel, led by Rabbi Warmflash and an enthusiastic group of volunteers, under our HERJC Cares umbrella, we have an Israel Action Group who will “create a climate that leads to advocacy for Israel via a program of education and awareness”. It has been quite wonderful to watch as we gain momentum with our support of Israel during a time when it is obvious that our beloved Israel has never needed us more! Also, we continue to add enthusiastic participants to our HERJC Cares committee as we comfort those in need right here in our community, visiting congregants who would like companionship and driving congregants in need to medical appointments. We also plan to take the wraps off a brand new program this year called Mitzvah 613! There are so many unbelievably talented individuals already preparing a very meaningful year that will fill our lives with opportunities to connect to Torah. For the vast majority of us, this will be the first opportunity to fulfill the 613th commandment which is to write a Torah. It also allows us to educate, dedicate, and contribute in so many ways that will become apparent as the New Year rolls out. I urge everyone to be a part of Mitzvah 613 as it will bring great joy to you and your family and will allow us to come together as a community with great meaning! Mitzvah 613 will allow the children of our Early Childhood Center and Religious School to connect to Torah as well. This year we experience our first full year as a PJ Library Jewish Centre, which affords us the ability to send free books (monthly) to Jewish families with children ages 6 months to 6 years. With PJ Library and other bright new ideas, we create a vision that allows us to improve and sustain our schools and to President continued on page 6 HERJC MISSION STATEMENT Hewlett-East Rockaway Jewish Centre–Congregation Etz Chaim (HERJC) is a warm, vibrant, traditionalegalitarian Conservative congregation. Our diverse, forward-thinking community is one in which learning, prayer and social action flourish. Since its founding in 1949, HERJC has been recognized for creating a welcoming environment in which each member—regardless of age, stage of life or background—feels a connection to one another, to the Jewish people, to the United States, to the land and State of Israel, to Judaism and to God. We are committed to continuing to provide innovative, interesting, and thought-provoking programs that: Foster lifelong learning from pre-school through adulthood Celebrate our Jewish heritage Deepen the sense of community among our Congregational family Promote religious involvement of all members, and enhance their spiritual experience Encourage intergenerational cooperation Nurture the State of Israel and our relationship with it Serve the needs of our members, the local community, the United States, and K’lal Yisrael, the Jewish people throughout the world. Pirkei Avot says the world rests on Torah, Avodah, and G’milut Chasadim. So too does our Congregation. HAKOL www.herjc.org SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011 page 5
Page 1 and 2: The VOICE of Hewlett-East Rockaway
Page 3: From the Rabbi’s Study RABBI ANDR
Page 7 and 8: Scholar in Residence Weekend - Join
Page 9 and 10: What’s Happening in Israel? www.j
Page 11 and 12: schedule of services SELICHOT SATU
Page 13 and 14: Simchat Torah Kallat torah Judith N
Page 15 and 16: events Mah Jongg Tuesdays 8 TUESDA
Page 17 and 18: and october b’nai mitzvah MATTHEW
Page 19 and 20: of events WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY
Page 21 and 22: of events THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
Page 23 and 24: IS THERE A NEW BABY IN YOUR LIFE? S
Page 25 and 26: eligious school DAVID WOOLFE Whew,
Page 27 and 28: The HERJC Mitzvah Garden is thrivin
Page 29 and 30: Harriet and Neil Meixler with wishe
Page 31 and 32: Linda Gevarter in memory of her par
Page 33 and 34: Joseph Brofsky, D.M.D. Pediatric De
Page 35 and 36: HAKOL www.herjc.org SEPTEMBER/OCTOB

It's Happening at HERJC! - Hewlett E. Rockaway Jewish Center

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